Colonel Pyara Lal served in the National Defence College for 12 years right from its inception in 1960 till 1972, as the General Staff Officer (Grade-1). He was a person of great talent and erudition. He had graduated from the Punjab University in 1938 and undertook higher studies at the reputed Oxford University, UK. He also graduated in law from the Inner Temple, London in 1943 and was, thereafter, invited to practice law at the British Bar. He joined the army during World War II and later transferred to 4/5th Maratha Light Infantry in India. He also served as Army Public Relations Officer during the Allied operations in Imphal, Burma campaign 1943-44, J&K Operations 1947-48 and the Hyderabad Police Action of 1948. He continued in his role during the Sino-Indian War of 1962.

During his stay at National Defence College, he was instrumental in selecting speakers of great repute for the College. For his distinguish services, he was awarded the Ati Vishista Sewa Medal in 1970.

The library of the USI of India has been named after Colonel Pyara Lal . To institutionalize his memory and services to National Defence College, the Colonel Pyara Lal medal is awarded to the course member for best Thesis in each course.

List of Awardees

S No

Year

Course

Name

Service/Country

1.

1992

32

MR. ML KUMAWAT, IPS

IPS

2.

1997

37

AIR CMDE SC RASTOGI, VSM

IAF

3.

1998

38

BRIG AS BHAGAT

ARMY

4.

1999

39

MRS VIJAY LAXMY K GUPTA

IDSA

5.

2000

40

BRIG TK SAPRU

ARMY

6.

2001

41

COL STEVEN B SBOTO

US ARMY

7.

2002

42

DR THOMAS MATHEW

IAS

8.

2003

43

COL ABDUL RAHMAN BELLO DAMBAZU

NIGERIAN ARMY

9.

2004

44

CMDE ANIL CHOPRA

NAVY

10.

2005

45

AIR CMDE P RAMU

IAF

11.

2006

46

BRIG A GUHA

ARMY

12.

2007

47

BRIG S MADHOK

ARMY

13.

2008

48

BRIG KJ SINGH

ARMY

14.

2009

49

COL PAWAN KAPOOR, VSM

ARMY

15.

2010

50

BRIG VINOD VASHISHT

ARMY

16.

2011

51

GP CAPT BENEDICT SMITH

FRENCH AIR FORCE

This is the Official
National Defence College & managed by the NDC.
Site hosted by NDC.